Rawls healthy, seniors prep for final home game
While thousands of fans will walk into Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday, 19 seniors will walk out of the building having played their last game in Mount Pleasant.
“I’m going to miss it for sure,” said senior linebacker Justin Cherocci. “Coach Nystrom before (practice said) ‘This is our last Wednesday practice with Cody (Lopez) and Cherocci.’ That’s actually when it hit me. I just realized I’m not going to have it anymore.”
This year’s seniors might have one more chance after Saturday’s game, since CMU is eligible for one of the Mid-American Conference’s five primary bowl games or one of the secondary bowl tie-ins.
Senior offensive guard Andy Phillips has started 41 consecutive games on CMU’s offensive line, dating back to October 2011.
“I’m trying not to think about it,” Phillips said. “You prepare every week as if it’s your last, because you really don’t know when it’s going to be. It’s going to be an emotional time for seniors, but once you get out there playing, you play every play as if it’s your last just like you always do."
Phillips said he is not looking forward to the final whistle he hears while on the field of play.
“Whenever they blow the whistle and drag you off the field, it’s over,” he said.
Chippewas eliminated from MAC West after Toledo victory
Sitting at 5-2 in the MAC, the Chippewas chances of leapfrogging Toledo, Western Michigan University and Northern Illinois University to the top of the MAC West standings were slim as the week began.
To win the division, CMU needed to beat Western Michigan, WMU to beat NIU and Toledo to lose to both Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
With Toledo’s 27-20 win over BGSU Wednesday, CMU was eliminated from the MAC West race.
Toledo (6-1 MAC), NIU (6-1 MAC) and WMU (5-1 MAC) are all still in contention.
If CMU beats Western Michigan on Saturday, the Broncos will be eliminated.
Rawls talks rivalry
Senior running back Thomas Rawls is new to CMU this year, but the University of Michigan transfer is not new to intense college football rivalries.
"Everyone knows about the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry," Rawls said. "Everyone outside of that also knows about Central-Western. I didn't know too much of the details, and the stuff I'm learning now with speakers coming in and other coaches. Overall, I'm looking forward to learning more about it and going out and playing with the same tenacity."
Rawls has not had more than three carries in a game since the 32-29 loss to Ball State on Oct. 18. The Flint-native said he will be at 100 percent Saturday.
"It's going to be a dirty, fun game,” Rawls said. “They are going to play balls out and play tough, hard and physical. The records don't matter, the stats don't matter. It's going to be a hard fought game. I want to come out in pregame with a level of intensity and bring some energy out there.”
Rawls played with WMU senior defensive tackle Richard Ash when the two were teammates at Michigan. Saturday, the two will be on opposing ends of the line of scrimmage.
“I talked to him and we're ready to battle,” Rawls said. “I'm just excited to be back."
